OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County Deputy David Crawford is now formally charged stemming from a 2022 arrest through which the deputy is accused of beginning a hearth with a Taser which left a suspect badly burned throughout most of his physique.

Crawford faces a cost of culpable negligence with private damage, which is a first-degree misdemeanor, in keeping with the Orange-Osceola state legal professional’s workplace. If convicted, Crawford may face a yr in jail and a $1,000 effective.

The cost comes greater than a yr after Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez introduced he was recommending the cost towards his deputy.

Throughout an tried arrest in February 2022 at a Wawa fuel station, gasoline caught hearth which triggered three deputies — together with Crawford — and Jean Barretto, 26, to undergo burns and be hospitalized.

The incident started, in keeping with deputies, when individuals known as 911, saying a gaggle of motorcyclists was pointing weapons at civilians.

“The sheriff’s office received several 911 calls from concerned citizens,” Lopez stated in a Could 2022 information convention. “The citizens reported two Hispanic males on blue dirt bikes that pulled guns on them, and the occupants of an additional innocent vehicle.”

After an tried visitors cease close to Donegan Avenue, deputies stated Barretto fled however they later discovered him on the Wawa situated at 3951 Central Florida Parkway in Orange County.

The sheriff’s workplace shared helicopter video that seems to point out deputies attempting to cease a bike rider in what seems to be an orange helmet. The sheriff recognized that rider as Barretto. The video reveals the motorcyclist becoming a member of a number of different riders as they weave in and round visitors, often blowing by crimson lights and driving towards visitors.

An Osceola County sheriff’s deputy is anticipated to face a cost in relation to an tried arrest at a fuel station months in the past the place a suspect caught hearth.

In keeping with the sheriff, Barretto finally made his method again into Orange County, however Osceola deputies continued their pursuit beneath the “fresh pursuit doctrine.”

Florida’s recent pursuit regulation might be discovered by clicking right here.

It reads, partly: “Any duly authorized state, county, or municipal arresting officer is authorized to arrest a person outside the officer’s jurisdiction when in fresh pursuit. Such officer shall have the same authority to arrest and hold such person in custody outside his or her jurisdiction.”

Watch Crawford’s physique digital camera within the media participant under. WARNING: Video is extraordinarily graphic.

Bodycam video from an Osceola deputy who used a Taser throughout an arrest at a fuel station, inflicting a hearth that badly burn himself and the suspect, in accordance the sheriff’s workplace.

In the course of the arrest, investigators stated Crawford used a Taser on Barretto, although he knew there was gasoline close by.

“Deputy Crawford was aware there was gas in the direct and immediate area,” Lopez stated in 2022. “We know this because he says on body cam, ‘Kill the pump, kill the pump! Gas!’ After that statement, he picked up the discarded Taser that was located in gas. He (Crawford) says, ‘You’re about to get tazed, dude.’ Immediately after that statement with the Taser in his hand, the fire ignites.”

Watch extra physique digital camera within the media participant under. WARNING: Content material is extraordinarily graphic.

After asserting the really helpful costs towards Crawford, the sheriff’s workplace stated he was positioned on paid go away pending an inside investigation to find out what number of coverage violations Crawford made. Information 6 has reached out to the sheriff’s workplace to make clear Crawford’s present standing with the division. This story will probably be up to date if we obtain a reply.

The sheriff’s workplace did launch an announcement following the formal charging of Crawford. It reads:

“Over a year ago, we investigated this case and sent our findings over to the State Attorney’s Office to review. At this time, we feel it’s appropriate to let the criminal justice system determine if Deputy Crawford did a criminal act that could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Osceola County Sheriff’s Workplace

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